Chapter 10: Dismissing the Fourth Princesses! Fourth Princess: Who Is She?
At this moment, Xiao Zhen stood victorious, having sent Lian Hua flying with a mere flick, leaving her seriously injured.
Gasps of astonishment filled the air.
Incredible—he was simply too strong.
At just nineteen years old, Xiao Zhen had already reached the third stage of Martial Venerate.
If given a bit more time, he would undoubtedly achieve the level of Martial Saint.
Both Lian Hua and Jiang Lingyou had made the right decisions at this moment.
However, it was unfortunate that Lian Hua's choice three years ago had been a grave mistake.
Regret now was likely too late.
With her red lips tightly pressed together, Lian Hua bit down hard, nearly drawing blood.
A wave of regret crashed over her like a raging sea, making her heart ache as if it were bleeding.
How she wished she hadn't divorced three years ago.
If only she had waited a bit longer.
If only she hadn't underestimated Xiao Zhen back then.
But alas, there were no "if onlys"; what had happened was irreversible, and she could not change the past.
The only option left for her was to apologize.
Of course, she could also choose not to apologize. She could rely on a stronger man and seek to defeat Xiao Zhen.
In that scenario, she would prove to Xiao Zhen that rejecting her had been the worst mistake of his life.
In that moment, Lian Hua made her decision: she would pursue the latter path.
She was unwilling to admit defeat.
Gritting her silver teeth, she stood up, trembling slightly, and declared, "Xiao Zhen, Jiang Qingyun is also a Martial Venerate, and he's at rank five. His talent is formidable as well."
"There's even a powerful presence at rank seven among the royal family. You will regret humiliating me like this today."
Xiao Zhen replied, "Then let your fiancé come forward. I know he is infatuated with you and will try to defend your honor, but I'm not afraid."
He understood Jiang Qingyun well; the man was fixated on Lian Hua and would likely remain loyal, no matter how much Lian Hua belittled him.
It was absurd but true.
This was simply the nature of a devoted admirer.
Xiao Zhen didn't comprehend it fully, but he wouldn't let the presence of such devotion sway his resolve.
Lian Hua sneered, "You think you can keep talking so boldly? When Jiang Qingyun arrives, that'll be the moment you beg for mercy."
At that moment, Xiao Tianling interjected with a smile, "Princess, can you leave now?"
Despite recent events, Xiao Tianling was not angry; in fact, he was delighted.
First, his family's honor was restored, and second, his son had not only regained his strength but had also advanced to Martial Venerate.
It was a double celebration, so there was no reason to feel sorrowful.
Lian Hua responded, "Wait a moment; I want to verify whether Xiao Zhen truly chose Jiang Lingyou."
With that, she fixed her gaze on Xiao Zhen, and everyone else followed suit.
They thought that if Xiao Zhen didn't choose Jiang Lingyou, he must be out of his mind.
After all, she was a princess who had voluntarily made herself available. She was noble, powerful, and ranked fifth among beauties.
It was nearly impossible for any man to turn her down!
Xiao Zhen glanced at Jiang Lingyou before saying, "The fourth princess is indeed a remarkable woman; I can't find a single flaw in her."
For the past three years, Jiang Lingyou had never ridiculed him—not even once.
Thus, he genuinely saw no issues with her.
When she heard this, Jiang Lingyou's heart swelled with joy.
She felt relieved, glad that she had refrained from mocking Xiao Zhen.
Otherwise, her chances today would have been ruined.
From this point forward, Xiao Zhen would become her fiancé.
Hearing this, Lian Xiang's expression darkened, and her eyes began to well with tears.
Compared to the princess, she felt inferior in both status and cultivation.
She realized that she had no chance at all.
Xiao Zhen would not belong to her.
But in the next moment, Xiao Zhen's words left her speechless.
"However, while the fourth princess is perfect and admirable, I don't have any feelings for her."
He continued, "In a relationship between a man and a woman, lacking emotional connection makes it hard to maintain."
Xiao Zhen stated matter-of-factly.
Jiang Lingyou was taken aback. They hadn't spent much time together, so of course, he wouldn't have developed feelings for her yet.
But if they got to know each other better, that could change.
She quickly added, "That's alright; I'll do my best to get to know you better and win your heart."
She was more than willing to make an effort for someone as gentle, handsome, and talented as Xiao Zhen.
After all, her feelings for him ran deep.
Lian Xiang felt a surge of anxiety again. The princess was so accommodating; if she were Xiao Zhen's big brother, she might not be able to resist the temptation to agree.
In that case, she would be completely out of luck.
She murmured softly to herself.
Xiao Zhen shook his head. "It's fine; I already have someone special in my heart. Thank you for your kindness, Princess."
The crowd erupted into whispers.
Someone special? Was it true or just a ploy?
Who was this fortunate individual?
After all, being chosen by Xiao Zhen was a blessing that could take several lifetimes to achieve!
Frustrated, Jiang Lingyou clenched her teeth and demanded, "Who is she?"
Lian Hua also fixed her gaze on Xiao Zhen, eager to know who had captured his heart.
Which woman could possibly elicit such a declaration from him?